Stabroek News
May 9, 2001

President Bharrat Jagdeo and PNC/R leader, Desmond Hoyte are urging the Guyanese people to remain calm and cooperate with the authorities.

Their call was issued in a joint statement following their fourth meeting at the Office of the President yesterday. It came in the wake of steps taken by the government to address the heightened tension among residents in a number of villages along the lower East Coast Demerara.

In their statement, President Jagdeo and Hoyte said that a return to normality was "necessary for development works to proceed" and "will also reduce tensions and allow Guyanese to continue to live in harmony."

Stabroek News confirmed that as indicated in his announcement on Monday of a permanent presence of army patrols on the East Coast, President Jagdeo raised the issue at yesterday's meeting. Prior to the beginning of the dialogue process, President Jagdeo had expressed the desire that it should proceed in an atmosphere free of fear, intimidation and pressure, a reference to the demonstrations mounted by the PNC/R in Georgetown.

The Jagdeo/Hoyte statement also announced that they had agreed on the composition of the committees which would address some of the issues on their agenda. It said too the logistical and other support for the various committees will be provided by the relevant ministries.

The statement said that the composition of the committees and the time frame for the completion of their work were agreed at meetings between Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud, and PNC/R chairman, Robert Corbin.

The two met on Monday and yesterday to complete their work and also participated in the meeting of their leaders. According to the statement, "Corbin and Persaud were requested to finalise the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the various committees for our approval at our next meeting." The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, according to the statement.

The committees for which the TOR are to be drawn up are:

* a joint task force to undertake the task of implementing the provisions of Local Government Reform Legislation. (This committee has a 12 months time frame for the completion of its work and it was agreed that the task force would have been set up a fortnight from April 25.)

* a joint committee to examine the various options for the resuscitation of the bauxite industry. (This committee is to submit its report within three months of its establishment.)

* a committee to examine urgently and report on a national policy for the distribution of land and house lots including relevant criteria and mechanisms. (This committee is to submit its report within a time frame yet to be determined.)

* a committee is to examine the needs of various depressed communities across Guyana and report back in six months. (While this committee is at work, they agreed to identify some areas where rehabilitation works will begin at an early date.) At yesterday's meeting, President Jagdeo and Hoyte agreed that this committee "will be asked to immediately identify some communities for the commencement of this work."

* a committee to examine the issue of the government monopoly of radio and the question of non-partisan boards of directors for the state-owned media and the National Frequency Management Unit. They said too that this committee would examine the enacting of broadcast legislation for the responsible use of the media. The time frame set for the submission of this committee's report is six weeks.